By Julie Christensen
Most gardeners have a place in their garden where almost nothing grow . You know the spot — grunge the consistency of lucre , blaze heating system and limited access to pee . Moss rose , a appendage of the succulent home , is the result to this gardening eyesore . These tough footling plant grow in even the harshest conditions .
Interestingly , they were first developed by an Englishman , most certainly in conditions that could scarcely be anticipate dry . Portulacas were first observe in Argentina by Dr. John Gillies . They develop in arenaceous , infertile soil at the base of the Andes Mountains . Dr. Gillies was entranced with the plants ’ low - lying growth and prolific flower . Moss roses have thick , padded leaves that store water , allowing them to tolerate drouth conditions . They ’re often used in rock gardens or in xeriscapes . But , do n’t imagine you have to experience in the desert to grow these . They grow from U.S. Department of Agriculture industrial plant hardiness zona 2 through 11 . They do n’t rise peculiarly well in showery climates , and they wo n’t flower on nebulose , rainy day .
Moss roses are annual flower , but they ego - sow readily and may come up up twelvemonth after year with little help from you . The prime blossom in a profusion of colors , from chicken to knock to empurple . The original plants flower only in the morning and shut by midday . New varieties have double , rose - like petals and stay on undefended all day . Moss rose are compendious industrial plant , seldom spring up taller than 6 inches . Their spread is only about 12 inches extensive .
Growing Moss Rose
Most gardeners grow moss rise from nursery transplant or cuttings , but you may also initiate the plants from seed . depart them indoors four weeks before the last frost or sow them directly alfresco in warm weather . brood them with a thin layer of soil and keep the soil evenly moist until the germ germinate . Moss roses spud well when grunge temperatures are between 75 and 85 grade . Moss roses have fragile root so transplant them cautiously .
Although moss rose tolerate wry , unfertile soil , they ’ll grow advantageously with a small charge . Water them every week or so during wry conditions and repair the soil with compost prior to planting . Moss roses produce prolific pitch-dark seeds , which can slow up anthesis . If this happens , shear the plants back to encourage a fresh flush of blooms .
Moss Rose Pests and Diseases
Moss rose are low - maintenance flora that prosper on neglect . Most disease are actually make , in part , by too much care . ascendent rots , for example , are worsen by pissed soils . Planting moss roses in dry , well - draining soil usually clear this problem . livid rust sometimes infects moss rosebush , but it is seldom serious . To keep the plants goodly , water infrequently , using drip mold systems instead of overhead sprinklers . piss first thing in the dawning so the leaves dry out apace . Remove and discard any septic works .
Aphids occasionally infest moss roses , although the impairment is seldom stern . aphid are midget and hard to spot , but they leave several tell - tale signs , including a sticky substance scream honeydew and a black-market jet growth , which is really fungus attracted to the honeydew . Aphids have piercing mouth parts and take in the sap from moss roses . They generally move on within a few weeks and several beneficial insects prey on them . In ecumenical , they want no treatment , although you could spray the plants with a stream of water to dislodge them .
Varieties of Moss Rose
‘ Sundance ’ is a favorite cultivar because it has double efflorescence and efflorescence all day .
Try ‘ Calypso , ’ which produces flowers in a variety of color .
Learn more at these great web sites .
Better Homes and Gardenshas a page about Moss Rose , with a skillful guidebook to diversity .
Floridata also has an informative pagethat covers moss rose in groovy detail .
YouTube has a enceinte University of Illinois extension service videoabout growing portulacas in container or the garden .
When she ’s not writing about horticulture , food and canning , Julie Christensen enjoys drop time in her garden , which includes perennial , vegetables and fruit trees . She ’s write hundreds of gardening article for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several tocopherol - books .
